Abstract. Bad sample designs and selection bias have plagued studies on schistosomiasis, and as a result some believe that schistosomiasis is too focal, making it difficult to draw reliable samples. The Epidemiology 1, 2, 3 (EPI 1, 2, 3) sample design, although complex, demonstrates that sampling theory is readily applicable to epidemiologic studies of schistosomiasis. The EPI 1, 2, 3 sampling scheme was designed to achieve the smallest feasible standard errors given EPI 1, 2, 3 objectives and certain logistical constraints. The sample design is a multi-stage selection of villages (ezbas, which were stratified by size) and households within each of 9 purposely selected Egyptian governorates. Villages and households were systemically selected from census frames. The sampling of ezbas was especially difficult because of the lack of complete sampling frames and their wide variation in population size. Ultimately, ezbas were stratified by size and then randomly selected from each stratum. Sample sizes for villages and ezbas and individuals within ezbas were calculated based on EPI 1 and 2 objectives, respectively. No re-selection was made for non-respondents. A 20% subsample of the full sample was drawn for clinical and ultrasonographic examinations. The sample selected from individual governorates closely parallel the age structure of the 1986 census of the respective rural populations. Details of the study design and related methods are given below.Epidemiology 1, 2, 3 (EPI 1, 2, 3) was an epidemiologic investigation of Schistosoma haematobium and/or S. mansoni infections in humans. The study methodology was designed and developed specifically to address the 3 EPI 1, 2, 3 objectives.

The effect of ingesting charcoal-broiled beefburgers (CBB) on the liver functions and nonenzymatic antioxidant levels in human blood was examined in twenty-nine healthy individually males (mean age 21.65  1.32 years, range 20.32 -22.42 years), non-smokers and had no occupational exposure to PAHs, who consumed two charcoal grilled beefburger per day (mean weight 70 gm per each) at lunch time over 28 consecutive days. The mean daily intake of PAH during the consumption period was 3431 ng and the mean daily intake of PAH per kg body wt/day was 46 ng. Blood samples were collected from each subject 7, 14, 21 and 28 days before, during, and after the beefburgers consumption period. glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic-pyruvate transaminase (GPT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were significantly higher in serum of subjects during CBB consumption period compared with those of before CBB consumption ones. All of the enzyme activities still increased upper the baseline levels, before CBB consumption period, by four week after charcoal broiled meat consumption ended. In contrary, the levels of non-enzymatic antioxidants include albumin (ALB), glutathione in serum (GSH-S) and erythrocytes (GSH-E) were significantly lower in subjects during CBB consumption period compared with those of before CBB consumption ones. All of the non-enzymatic antioxidant levels decreased to near baseline levels, before CBB consumption period, by four week after charcoal broiled meat consumption ended. Results suggested that non-enzymatic antioxidants defense system of serum and erythrocytes was depressed and the erythrocytes as well as liver cells were exposed to oxidant stress due to oral exposure of PAH.

Background: Despite major advances in the treatment options for heart failure (HF) patients, morbidity and mortality remain high. Frequent re-admissions are distressful for patients and are associated with large costs for society. Improved self-care behaviour is a goal in educational programmes for patients with HF. The primary outcome measure of this study was to determine the effect of pre-discharge educational intervention and post- discharge intervention carried out by nursing staff on re-admission, mortality and quality of life.

Methods: A randomized controlled clinical trial in patients who were admitted to hospital with a diagnosis of HF. A total of 60 patients were randomly assigned (using a random number table) to either intervention group or a control group of 30 patients each. The intervention group participated in educational programme using face to face education before discharge, outpatient HF nursing intervention and monthly telephone call for over nine months to remind them about the main instruction in addition to the written instruction of HF management with emphasis on self-care behaviour. In each visit, the nurse evaluated the HF status and treatment, gave education about HF and social support to the intervention group.  The control group received usual care and given a HF management written instruction.

Results: Patients in the intervention group was found to have a 66.67% decrease in the total number of readmission as compared to the control group (5 vs 25; p = .001), fewer death (2 vs 6; p = .04), and improved quality of life (t= 27.06; P = .001). Furthermore, results showed significant improvement in HF knowledge level (t = 7.85; P = .001) and compliance of health behaviours (t = 15.72; P = .001), in the intervention group after 12 months of inclusion than those in the control group.

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